Political opportunities

I rarely write about politics these days. It’s not because they don’t interest me but rather because politics generally make me sick.

A good example of nausea-inducing politics can be found in the behavior of Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu these past few days. Benjamin Netanyahu stepped down as finance minister two days ago claiming that the upcoming Israeli withdrawal from Gaza will only strengthen Palestinian terror groups. Maybe he is right. Who knows? That’s not the issue here. His resignation came less than ten days before the disengagement is set to begin. There is nothing he can do to stop it and he has made it quite clear that he just wants the historical record to show that he was opposed. The right are obviously lauding Netanyahu for his courage but the fact is that he has had more than one opportunity to resign and its way too late in the game for Bibi to convincingly separate himself from the government’s role in Disengagement. Up until this point Netanyahu has been an active part of the government so his last inning resignation wreaks of political opportunity. His ambitions to return to the prime ministership is no secret. This move was so overtly assholic that I am dumbfounded by the reaction of the right. He’s “betrayed” the right before. Lest we forget that it was Netanyahu who was PM when Israel handed over majority of Hebron to the control of the Palestinian Authority. Trying to paint himself as the “new right” of the Likud party is a complete sham and insulting.

The right-wing Israel National News is reporting that instead of participating in Thursday’s anti-disengagement rally he’ll be in the states fundraising. Interesting, no?

I have been sickened these past few months by the sophomoric color wars and the disgusting behavior of both camps. I’m sick of the insults being thrown at each other, the incitement and the government’s quashing of the democratic right to protest, I’m sick of being handed orange and blue ribbons at junctions, I’m tired of the divisions in our society and most of all I just want to be able to wear my cool orange shirt without making a political statement.

I prefer fashion statements instead.